Frequently Asked Questions

A typical day begins at 7:30 a.m. and involves patient care, research activities or both, depending on the curriculum in the subspecialty area of training. Lunchtime frequently is coupled with didactic lectures or conferences; these may be in the fellow's subspecialty area, and if not, the fellow is welcome to attend.

Fellows are expected to be in the department until 5 p.m., but fellows often remain longer to complete patient care activities, read about cases or work on research projects. Fellows work hours are well within limits set by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

There are many opportunities for fellows to engage in research with faculty who are experts in their fields. Fellows are required to undertake one project, but they frequently complete multiple research projects focused on clinical or translational studies.

Fellows are encouraged to submit their work to research competitions available at Cedars-Sinai and the surrounding community. These include the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine's Nathan B. Friedman Competition, Cedars-Sinai Research Day, Patient Safety/Quality Improvement and Clinical Fellows Awards, and the Los Angeles Society of Pathologists' annual resident/fellow symposium.

Pathology fellows are required to keep a current certification in basic life support only. For more information, please see the Graduate Medical Education website.

The Compensation Benefits and Policy Information page provides information about stipends and benefits.

• Housing Stipend: A total of $6,000 will be added to your paycheck per year to help offset your housing costs.
• California Medical License Reimbursement: House staff enrolled in Cedars‐Sinai ACGME‐accredited GME programs, who start their training during their exemption period for licensure, will be reimbursed for their initial application and license fees paid to the California Medical Board (currently a total of $907.50). Licensed house staff enrolled in Cedars‐Sinai GME programs, who must renew their license during their training at Cedars‐Sinai, will be reimbursed for the renewal fee paid to the California Medical Board (currently $820). Medical and DEA licenses with an expiration date on the last day of training or after training ends are not reimbursable by GME. These fees are reimbursable only for licenses needed during training.
• Educational Allowance Policy: Each fellow is allotted a total of $1,800 to be used on pathology textbooks, professional organization dues, board review course or scientific meeting and travel expenses. Receipts must be submitted in the academic year in which the funds are spent; funds are not carried over to the next academic year.
  • Travel:
    • Maximum daily lodging cost: $200
    • Maximum daily meal cost: $75
    • Mileage reimbursement 58 cents per mile (subject to change)
    • Airfare reimbursed only if flying coach or equivalent class
    • International trips will be reimbursed if invited or presenting an oral presentation and must be pre-approved prior to travel
  • Books and Journals: Residents and fellows are encouraged to work with the resident librarian to request books and journals for the library. If the library does not have the book (or a recent edition), the resident librarian will work with Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine to purchase one or more copies of the requested book for the library.